Suzuki 800DE V-Strom 2023 on
Suzuki V-Strom 800DE
The Suzuki V-Strom 800DE is a pretty capable adventure bike straight out of the box. The chassis works well and the suspension is certainly not something that needs fixing before you can enjoy the bike. But once you start riding it harder, particularly on rougher Australian roads and trails, there are some clear areas where the standard suspension can be improved.
We pulled the suspension apart and spent some time looking at what Suzuki and Showa have done here. The result is a bike with a solid suspension platform that responds well to some targeted tuning rather than needing a complete rethink.
Suzuki 800DE V-Strom 2023 on Forks
Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Forks
The 800DE uses 43mm Showa upside-down open-cartridge forks with 20mm pistons and base valves. It is a proper cartridge fork rather than a basic damper-rod setup, and the overall architecture is a familiar and proven design.
There is plenty to like about the hardware. The forks have preload, rebound and compression adjustment, giving the rider plenty of things to turn. The catch is that having an adjuster and having a useful adjuster are not always the same thing.
On the standard fork, the damping adjustments have very little useful effect. That means you can spend a fair bit of time clicking away at the adjusters without getting the sort of meaningful change you would expect from a fully adjustable adventure fork.
The standard springs are progressive, with rates in the approximate 0.5 to 0.8 kg/mm range. As always, spring selection needs to take rider weight, luggage and intended use into account rather than simply relying on the factory specification.
Making the front end work harder
The good news is that the basic fork architecture is worth working with.
Our testing showed that the fork responds well to changes to the damping system, particularly on the compression side. The result is more useful damping control and a compression adjuster that actually has a meaningful effect across the range.
For riders who want to get more from the standard forks, our V-Strom 800DE Fork Re-Valve Kit is the obvious place to start. It replaces key internal damping components rather than simply asking the original adjusters to do a job they were not particularly effective at doing.
The aim isn't to turn the V-Strom into a motocross bike. It is about giving the front suspension better support and more useful adjustment while retaining the compliance that makes the bike pleasant to ride.
Suzuki 800DE V-Strom 2023 on Shock
Suzuki 800DE V-Strom 2023 on Shock
At the back, the V-Strom uses a Showa monotube shock with a piggyback bladder reservoir. It has rebound and compression adjustment and uses a 40mm piston with an aluminium construction.
The standard shock is a good-quality, serviceable unit and is worth modifying rather than replacing. The two main areas to address are spring rate and damping.
The standard rear spring tested at 105 N/mm. For heavier riders, luggage, pillion use or more aggressive off-road riding, the correct spring rate is the first priority. A spring that is too soft requires excessive preload and reduces the amount of usable suspension travel available to deal with bumps.
Once the spring rate is correct, the damping becomes the next limitation. The standard shock is relatively soft, particularly when the suspension is working repeatedly through corrugations, ruts and larger impacts.
Our Teknik V-Strom 800DE Shock Kit is designed specifically around the original Showa shock and replaces the standard damping piston and valving with a billet piston, low-friction graphite-filled piston band and model-specific shim stacks.
Spring and damping setup
A properly matched rear spring supports the rider and load correctly, sets the bike at the right ride height and allows the shock to work through the intended part of its travel. This is particularly important on an adventure bike where rider weight and luggage loads can vary significantly.
The shock kit then adds the damping control needed to manage that spring properly. Compression and rebound damping are increased through the stroke, giving the rear of the bike better control through corrugations, repeated bumps and rough terrain.
For the best result, we recommend treating the spring and damping as a complete setup rather than separate upgrades. Select the correct rear spring rate for your rider weight and load, then pair it with the V-Strom 800DE Shock Upgrade Kit to get the most from the standard Showa shock.
So, What's the Verdict?
The V-Strom 800DE has good suspension hardware from the factory. The opportunity is not in replacing everything, but in setting the bike up correctly and improving the components Suzuki already fitted.
At the front, our V-Strom 800DE Fork Re-Valve Kit improves damping control and gives the compression adjuster a more useful operating range.
At the rear, the first step is getting the spring rate right for the rider, luggage and intended use. From there, the Teknik V-Strom 800DE Shock Kit improves compression and rebound control while retaining the original Showa shock.
Together, the correct springs and re-valving address the main limitations we found in the standard suspension while keeping the quality factory components already on the bike. The result is a V-Strom 800DE that is better supported, more controlled and more predictable across sealed roads, loaded touring, corrugations and rough trails.
